The Los Angeles Lakers made the final decision on who’s going to be their head coach after firing Darvin Ham. As it was expected, JJ Redick was hired as the new Lakers head coach ahead of the 2024-25 season.
J.J. Redick, a former LA Clippers players and current ESPN analyst, will earn his first experience as a head coach in one of the most important franchises in the NBA. Redick has no prior experience as a coach and he will be surrounded by veteran assistant coaches to help him in his mission.
The news were first reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. After a tumultuous search, in which Redick was the front-runner for most of the time, the Lakers are pacing to an important offseason.
Redick started a podcast during the tail end of his playing career. With his “The Old Man and the Three” podcast, he was one of the pioneers of the Player Podcast Movement. His podcast helped him quickly rise through the broadcasting ranks. He was upgrade to a regular ESPN analyst during the 2023-24 season.
Redick has a notable link to the Lakers’ organization through his podcast, “Mind the Game,” which he has co-hosted with LeBron James since March. The show covers basketball analysis and strategies. Despite James connection, there is no indication that the King was involved in the coaching decision.
Redick will need to prove himself as a coach after taking over the Lakers’ bench as his first job in the NBA. The former Magic and Clippers player has been praised for his basketall knowledge and his communication with the players.
